Yokozuna Asashoryu showed no mercy against sekiwake Kotomitsuki to maintain his perfect record Tuesday and is headed for a showdown with fellow unbeaten Mongolian and promotion-chasing Hakuho at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Asashoryu moved behind Kotomitsui shortly after the face-off and charged like a bull with his arms wrapped around his opponent's body before sending the sekiwake (7-3) crashing onto the clay surface at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium.
Meanwhile, Hakuho held his composure and coped with the agility of upset-minded Aminishiki (6-4), claiming yet another convincing win after thwarting an initial charge from the third-ranked maegashira and shoving him out of the ring.
On Wednesday, the 21-year-old from Ulan Bator will face Asashoryu in a key bout for his bid to earn promotion to ozeki. He went 13-2 in January and is expected to earn a place in sumo's second-highest position with an equally strong showing here in Osaka.